Merlot Embargo
Merlot Embargo is a Southern California wedding band led by wife and husband songwriters Scarlet and Geoff. Based near Los Angeles, they perform for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions, scaling from an intimate acoustic duo to a full band.
A Los Angeles wedding band and acoustic duo
Wedding Vendor Key Details
Location: Downey, Los Angeles County, California
Category: Wedding Band
Style: Warm, personal, soulful, acoustic to full band
Specialties: Wedding ceremonies, cocktail hours, receptions, dinner music
Capacity: Suitable for intimate weddings and larger receptions
Offerings: Live vocals, guitar, custom arrangements, ceremony music, cocktail hour music, reception sets, dance floor entertainment
Fun Fact: "Merlot Embargo" sounds like a prohibition era speakeasy, which fits the duo’s warm and slightly unexpected live music style.
Southern California wedding band for acoustic moments and full reception energy
Your wedding music should feel like an extension of who you are as a couple, not a generic backdrop and not a performance that could have happened anywhere. Merlot Embargo brings that mindset to weddings across Los Angeles and Southern California, creating live music that feels personal, emotionally connected, and shaped around the actual rhythm of the day.
From the first conversation, the focus is on understanding the feeling couples want their wedding to carry. The emotional tone of the ceremony, the songs that mean something specific, the atmosphere of cocktail hour, and the energy arc from dinner into dancing all help guide the musical choices. Instead of relying on a fixed wedding band formula, Scarlet and Geoff use those details to shape song selections, arrangements, and transitions so the music feels connected to the celebration.
Scarlet leads the vocals with a warmth and expressiveness that can make familiar songs feel newly personal. Geoff anchors the musical direction through guitar, arrangements, and the behind the scenes coordination that helps the performance feel smooth and intentional. Together, they have developed the kind of musical shorthand that only comes from years of playing together, allowing the performance to feel effortless while still being carefully considered.
Depending on the venue, guest count, and overall vision, Merlot Embargo can perform as an intimate acoustic duo, expand into a small ensemble, or bring a full wedding band with subwoofers and a horn section for a larger reception. That flexibility makes them a strong fit for ceremonies, cocktail hours, dinner music, and full dance floor celebrations, especially for couples who want one musical team that can move naturally through different parts of the day.
Their repertoire covers a wide range of styles, including pop, soul, R&B, folk, and classic rock, with an approach that keeps the songs feeling warm and personal rather than overly polished or predictable. Whether the room leans more Fleetwood Mac or Frank Ocean, Merlot Embargo focuses on reading the crowd, honoring the couple’s taste, and letting the music support the moment in a way that feels alive, thoughtful, and true to the celebration.
Meet Scarlet & Geoff, your wedding band and acoustic duo in Southern California:
“A decade ago, a car accident on a Texas highway nearly took everything from us. In the hospital afterward, we decided to stop putting music off until later. That experience still lives in every performance we give.
As a married couple ourselves, we understand how much care, planning, and meaning go into a wedding day. When we play at a wedding, we are not just two musicians who happen to work together. We are two people who chose each other, playing for two people who chose each other.
Every wedding is a collaboration. We love hearing about the songs, artists, and moments that matter to you, then shaping the music around that story.
At the end of the night, what we are really after is simple: a room full of people who felt something real.”
– Scarlet and Geoff
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